Plural stage reciprocating- punch crusher for frangible materials



mr., 13, 1956 J. A. HJULIAN 2,770,422

PLURAL STAGE RclPRocATmc-PUNCH CRUSHER FOR FRANGIBLE MATERIALS Filed June 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l l 1, 1 Hl M1 u HLW WW A M l IWW 1 1 W WW f H {/l u] Vw W w wl "i" U W l 1 i n il, Z

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PLURAL. STAGE RECIPROCATING-PUNCH CRUSHER FOR FRANGIBLE MATERIALS Filed June 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 0f f ZZ MINI] I m11 Unite Sttes arent PLURAL STAGE RECIPROCATlNG-PUNCH CRUSHER FOR FRANGIBLE MATERIALS Julius A. I-Ijulian, Palos Heights, Ill., assiguor to Crane Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 8, 1955, Serial No. 513,932

7 Claims. (Cl. 241-147) This invention relates to a novel crushing apparatus for frangible materials, and, more particularly, it pertains to a reciprocating type of Crusher for titanium sponge or like materials.

For a better appreciation of the merits of the contribution made to the art by my invention, it should be noted at the outset that titanium sponge produced by the usual commercial methods of titanium tetrahalide reduction with an alkaline earth metal is massive in form. At the completion of the above-mentioned reduction reaction (usually titanium tetrachloride reduced by molten magnesum), the reaction Crucible is filled with a mixture of alkaline earth metal chloride and compact titanium in the form of large and irregularly formed lumps. The alkaline earth metal chloride is removed by vacuum distillation leaving a Crucible and compact titanium in the form of large and irregularly formed lumps. The alkaline earth metal chloride is removed by vacuum distillation leaving a Crucible containing the titanium sponge. To form titanium ingots of uniform composition subsequently in the electric arc melting furnace, it is desirable for such purpose to reduce the size of the titanium sponge crushed units remaining in the reaction Crucible to approximately mesh.

One of the solutions heretofore applied to the problem of sponge crushing comprised an apparatus involving the multi-stage reduction in size by means of power saws or the like. This method, however, wasl not only time-consuming and laborious, but the iinal size attainable was frequently not suitable for the production of uniform ingots.

Another size reduction process consisted of the freezing of titanium sponge in a mixture, such as alcohol and Dry Ice. The brittle material was then subjected to the action of jaw crushers and dried at an elevated temperature. This method of inducing frangibility by lowered temperatures was also time consuming and obviously expensive and therefore was not practical from a commercial production standpoint.

Titanium sponge particles of uniform consistency are also desirable in those electric arc melting processes utilizing a consumable titanium electrode. The uniform titanium particles are generally placed under compression to form a rigid rod. In some instances, an electric sintering current is passed through the rod to add to the strength thereof. Uniform particles are thus seen to benefit the actual electrode formation and in addition to facilitate the passage of an electric current through the rod by virtue of the uniform resistance throughout the electrode length.

The aforementioned processes for reducing the size of the sponge metal had been resorted to because of the inability to fragmentate titanium sponge in conventional apparatus designed to reduce the size of other more frangible materials, such as coal or stone.

The ordinary jaw or cone crusher when employed in titanium sponge crushing operations is ineffective in breaking down masses of the Vsponge material. The malleability of the sponge metal results in the formation of dense plates when the sponge metal is acted upon in the conventional crusher, with little or no desirable fragmentation being effected.

It is therefore an object of my invention to present an improved apparatus which will efficiently reduce the titanitun sponge as removed from the reduction Crucible into discrete particles of desirable neness.

It is a further object of my invention to present an apparatus which will effectively reduce the titanium sponge or similar sponge metal into particles of desired nen'ess without appreciably increasing the density of the sponge or tcompacting it objectionably in any way.

These and other objects will become more manifest upon proceeding with the following detailed description read in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of my invention with the cover plate fragmentarily shown.

Fig. 2 is a magnified transverse fragmentary sectional assembly view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side sectional view of my invention illustrating a reciprocating mechanism for my invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a top plan view of one preferred form of Crusher apparatus is shown partially in an `exterior view and which as indicated comprises a substantially dentigerous shearing plate members generally designated 1 and each of which plates is provided with the apertures 2 of flared or tapered interior as indicated, thereby to form a general configuration of tooth-like assembled projections as shown. As more clearly indicated `in the transverse sectional view of Fig. 3, the apertures 2 being formed on the stationary plates i cooperate with the projections or punch members 3 which preferably are integral with or aflxed to the reciprocally movable punch supporting plates 4 by means of machine screws 5, although obviously any suitable form or means of attachment maybe employed. Preferably, the punches are madeof specially hardened material in order to provide improved wear resistance for reasons hereinafter apparent.

It should be understood that the punch supporting member 4 is preferably formed integrally with a series of steps as indicated more clearly in Fig. 3, and that the punches 3 in the course of such reciprocating travel of the supporting member 4 enter the apertures 2 in the said stationary plate members 1. Thus assuming that an accumulation of sponge material, such as titanium, has been loaded into the feed chamber D (after removal of sight glass plate G), the reciprocating punches 3 will then force such metal sponge which is interposed between said punches andthe plates 1 through the said apertures.

It will also be clear that because the apertures are intentionally made of varied size, those sponge masses ordinarily too large to be able to pass through one set of apertures are fragmentated by virtue of the shearing effect resulting from the reciprocal travel of the punches 3 between the said tooth-like projections of the shearing plate 1 or pinning other sponge portions against the respective upstream wall surfaces of the plate 1.

For purpose of support, it should be understood that the end limits of the dentigerous plate members 1 are preferably slidably received for easy replacement or repair within the oppositely disposed inner recesses 6 of the side limit plates 7, as shown more clearly in the plan view of Fig. l. The latter side plates are in turn firmly affixed to the flanges 8 by means of the machine bolts 9 as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3..

An interposed plate 46 extending the full length of the apparatus serves not only as the means for closely guiding the reciprocally movable member 4 against side movement, but at the same time also serves as the means for providing an overhang and receiving a flange portion of the member 4 thereby to limit the transverse or lifting movement of thelatter member during the crushing operation. It will be noted that suitably spaced apart bolts 47 retain the interposed plate 46 in fixed position upon the inclined frame base generally designated A and which is provided with the upper inclined aperture for the purpose of receiving the reciprocating drive mechanism, the base member A being attached to a floor by means of the bolts 60 engaging the frame flange 61, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

A suitable cover plate 12 encloses the fragmentating mechanism hereinabove described and defines the upper limit of the said fragmentating or crushing chamber 17. The said plate is preferably bolted intermediately to the dentigerous plates 1 and also to the oppositely disposed side plates 7 by means of the bolt members 13 as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2.

It should be appreciated that because of the well recognized pyrophoric nature of finely divided titanium sponge, it is desirable for purposes of greater safety that the comminuting operation above described be carried out in the absence of oxygen and preferably in an inert atmosphere for effecting a noncombustion supporting condition. Therefore, the entire fragmentating portion of the apparatus above described is preferably enclosed in an air-tight chamber 14. The said chamber has an inlet 15 and an outlet 16 (see Fig. 3) for facilitating the circulation therewithin of an inert gas, such as argon or helium, whereby air normally present may thus be purged therefrom and flow out of the chamber outlet 16 during the course of apparatus operations.

In this connection, attention is directed to the fact that the removable sight glass G (see Fig. 3) enables the apparatus operator to observe closely the progress and condition of the sponge crushing operation at all times.

Referring further to Fig. 3, it should be noted that the titanium sponge pieces as removed from the reduction Crucible are deposited into the comminuting chamber 17 by means of the chute 18 and the feed chamber D, the latter being in communication with the chamber 17. It will be noted further that the chute 18 terminates in relatively close proximity to the uppermost or first of the inclined plates 1 and just below the cover connection 50. The said latter matrix plate preferably has the largest of the apertures 2, as shown in Fig. 3, and therefore, it should be apparent that the sponge masses that are normally unable to be processed so as to proceed through the plate apertures 2 are gradually fragmentated in the course of moving down the incline and being forced through the said plate by reason of the shearing action imposed by the hardened teeth or punches 3 in cooperative engagement with the matrixplates 1. Thus, preferably, although not necessarily, the apertures in the matrix or shear plates 1 are arranged so as to decrease in size as the position of the matrix plates descends the incline and approaches the fragmentated material receiving trough T. It should be obvious, therefore, that the final sponge particle size is controlled by or dependent to a large extent upon the size and shape of the lowermost plate apertures 2 in the matrix plates and the punches immediately adjacent the trough T.

Further directing attention to Fig. 3, the mechanism for accomplishing the reciprocating movement of the stepped punch supporting plate 4 is also illustrated and while a specic form will be referred to and described, it should be clear that the mechanism is illustrated largely diagrammatically and, of course, suitable forms of alternates may be employed for accomplishing the same overall result.

the said motor and reducer unit and which in turn engages a driven pulley or wheel 22 journally mounted on the crankshaft member 23. A plug member 24 is also journalled on the shaft 23 and by reason of such mounting describes an ovate path as the sprocket wheel 22 rotates. The vertical component of the ovate path of the plug member 24 is transverse in the slotted portion of the link member 26 which is pivotally engaged at 27 to the pivotally mounted lever 28, the latter link member being fixedly pivoted at 29 on the motor unit base as illustrated. lt will be apparent that the horizontal component of the ovate path of the plug member 24 will effect a reciprocal lateral movement of the link member 26. A cross member 31 pivotally connected at 32 to the link member 26 threadedly engages the rod member 33 which in turn is xedly attached to the punch supporting plate 4 by means of the flanges 51 bolted as at 52 to the supporting drive plug 31. It is held in fixed position thereon by means of the bolts 53 engaging the lower flanges 54, the inturned flanged portions of the member 4 being clamped therebetween as illustrated in order to effect said driving connection as illustrated. Reciprocal pivotal movement of the link member 26 Vis thus transmitted to the punch plate 4 through the supporting plug or cross head member 31 to effect the desired reciprocating movement of the punch member 4.

For the purpose of providing easy adjustment, the desired opposite end limits of the stroke of the punch plate 4 and thereby regulate the penetration of the respective sets of punches 3 into the matrix plate recesses 2 of the fixed plates 1 this is accomplished in a relatively simple manner by means of the adjusting rod 34 havng the bevel gear 35 at one end engaging a bevel gear pinion 36 preferably pinned to or made integral the threaded rod 33. The said latter rod is held against endwise movement by means of the end disposed locknuts 55, while the adjusting assembly just described is preferably mounted on the integral depending portion of the member 4. It

will therefore be clear that as the rod 34 is suitably rotated The combined motor and reducer drive unit 19 is firmly by means of the handle 37, the cross head or plug member 31, depending upon the direction of rotation of the handwheel 37, will asume a new position axially on the threaded rod 33, thereby conveniently establishing desired end limits for the reciprocating movement of the punch plate 4. It it will further be noted that the base member A having the said aperture 10 thus receives the adjusting mechanism of the driving means within the chamber B. Therefore, depending upon the speed and the adjustment of the reducer and driving motor 19, the shaft 33, journalled as at 48 and 49, will impart the desired reciprocating movement while also regulating the speed of such movement.

It will be appreciated that during the operation of crushing the titanium sponge, for example, it is necessary to avoid the deposit of fine titanium particles and powder between the reciprocating plate 4 and the flange side plates 7.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, a felt strip 39 extending the entire length of the punch plate 14 is affixed to the said punch plate by means of a plurality of screws 41 to effectively seal such surfaces as at 61 and 62 by functioning as a gasket and thereby keeping such powder deposits from entering and accumulating on such surfaces to cause objectionable wear. It will be observed further that the powder resulting from the reciprocal action of the punch plate 4 relative to the matrix plates 1 is allowed to discharge from the comminuting chamber 17 through the edge clearance or space 63 into a plurality of suitably distributed pitched apertures 42 having the inner terminus thereof positioned just above the felt strip gasket 39 and the outer terminus on a wall surface the side plates in communication with the chamber 14. Thus, the ne titanium powder is enabled to discharge outside the cham- Vber 17 without creating any deleterious frictional power losses or objectionable wear between the slidably cooperating surfaces at 61 and 62 between the side plates at 43 or at thc flange surface 44. Obviously, the said powder outlets 42 are so positioned in transverse alignment with the matrix plates 1 at locations at which the accumulations of the titanium powder is most prevalent.

The metal guide strip 46 is tixedly maintained relative to the upper inclined surface of the frame member A by means of the bolts 47, the said member 46 being preferably made of a hard, durable and long wearing alloy composition. The reciprocating punch plate 4 slidably engages on inner edge of the guide strip 46 during the operation of the apparatus, and it will be apparent therefore that upon objectionable grooving or other form of wear occurring with respect to the surfaces 44, 61 and 62 during the sponge crushing operation of the device, the guide strip 46 may be easily inspected, repaired or replaced without substantial delay and expense or disturbing the assembly of the remaining lset components of the device.

It should also be apparent that those parts bearing the brunt of the wear in the course of normal operation of this apparatus, such as the punches 3 and the shearing plates 1 are easily replaceable by first removing the cover plate 12, slidably removing the said shearing plates 1 from the spaced-apart oppositely disposed plate recesses 6 and then inserting as desired a new shearing plate or series of plates having the same size or else supplying preselected sizes of apertures, depending upon the metal and load use contemplated.

The entire reciprocating punch plate can of course also be quickly replaced as deemed necessary by simply sliding the said latter member out through the rear of the comminuting chamber 17 upon lifting the container or cover C.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that while only a single form of the cornminuting apparatus has been illustrated for reducing the particle size of the titanium sponge or like materials, other modifications may be effected within the spirit of the invention as illustrated by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In an apparatus for reducing the size of frangible material, the combination comprising a plurality of plate members, a reciprocally movable punch plate cooperating with said plate members, said plate members having a plurality of tooth-like protuberances disposed along the lower edges thereof, means fixedly maintaining said plate members substantially vertical to said reciprocally movable punch plate, punch means affixed to said reciprocally movable punch plate, said punch means entering the interstices defined by said tooth-like protuberances and effecting a shearing relationship therewith whereby frangible material interposed between said interstices and said punch means is fragmentated and forced through said interstices, means adapted to remove the fine particles of said frangible material from the vicinity of said fragmentation.

2. In an apparatus for reducing frangible material to particles of desired size, the combination comprising a pair of side plates and a plurality of apertured matrix plates, housed at each end limit in said side plates, a plurality of punch members axed to a reciprocally movable punch plate, said punch members being predeterminately received within said matrix plate apertures whereby frangible material interposed between said matrix plate apertures and said punch members is forced through said matrix plate apertures, said side plates having inclined channel portions disposed opposite said matrix plates whereby dust resulting from the cooperating action of said matrix plates and said punch members may exit from the vicinity of said cooperating action.

3. In apparatus for fragmentating metallic masses, the combination comprising a plurality of plate members, said plate members having a dentigerous lower edge, a reciprocally movable punch plate cooperating with said plate members, the upper surface of said punch plate having a plurality of plane surfaces arranged in step-like configuration, a plurality of predeterminately spaced punch members fixedly disposed across the edges of said plane surfaces.

4. In apparatus for crushing frangible material, the combination comprising a reciprocally movable punch plate, a plurality of plates having a dentigerous lower edge positioned substantially transverse to said reciprocally movable punch plate, said punch plate having a plurality of levels arranged in substantially step-like configuration, punch members cooperating with said levels, each of said levels having a plurality of said punch members positioned across the edge thereof, each of said punch members being aligned along a separate lateral axis.

5. In apparatus for fragmentating sponge metal, a reciprocally movable punch plate, said punch plate comprising a plurality of plane surfaces arranged in substantially step-like configuration, a plurality of punch members disposed across the edge of said punch plate surfaces at predeterminate intervals, the edge portion of said punch plate interposed between said punch members being relieved.

6. In an apparatus for the :crushing of sponge metal 0r the like, the combination comprising a plurality of plate members, a reciprocally movable punch plate cooperating therewith, said plate members having a plurality of toothlike protuberances disposed along the lower edges thereof, means xedly maintaining said plate members vertical to said reciprocally movable punch plate member, the upper surface of said punch plate member having a plurality of levels arranged in step-like configuration, a plurality of punch members aflxed to the edges of said punch plate levels, said punch members reciprocally moving between said toothlike protuberances so as to effect a shearing relationship therewith in the normal course of reciprocating operation of said punch plate member.

7. In an apparatus for fragmentating frangible material, a fragmentating chamber, said chamber being defined by a reciprocally movable punch plate, side plate members oppositely disposed slidably engaging said punch plate, a cover plate member affixed to said side plate members, a plurality of transversely extending dentigerous plate members, the longitudinal end limits of said chamber being defined by said dentigerous plate members, intermediate dentigerous plate members interposed between said chamber defining dentigerous plate members, all of said dentigerous plate members having a plurality of tooth-like projections disposed along the lower edges thereof, said tooth-like projections decreasing in size as the forward end limit of said fragmentating chamber is approached.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 204,165 Oliver May 28, 1878 283,212 Cranson Aug. 14, 1883 482,619 Carter Sept. 13, 1892 

